Exit latch



May 24, 1927.

J. o. SOEMER EXIT LATCH Filed Nov. 22. 1924 Patented May 24, 19.27.

UNITED STATES JOHN OTTO SOEMER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

EXIT LATCH.

Application filed November 22, 1924.. Serial Ila-751,486.

The present invention relates to latches and'more particularly to mechanism for normally latching the exit doors of public buildings, such as schoolhonses, theaters, and otlice buildings.

Modern construction of public buildings, such as schoolhouses, favors the employment of wide opening exits. which facilitate emptying of the building in case of [ire or other disaster. These exits may be closed by double doors which open outwardly. The doors are held at top and bottom by mechanism which may be released. through a sinr ple pressure upon a cross bar or pedal to unlatch and. open the doors in a single operation.

The object of the present invention is to reorganize and improve exitlatches of this general type in order to simplify the cost of manufacture and installation and at the same time improve the construction and operation of the latch.

With this and other objects in view, the several features of the invention consist in certain novel, features of construction, com binations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings illustratingthe preferred form of the invention Fig. 1 is a partial elevation of an exit door with the improved typeot latch applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the latch shown in Fig. 1 applied to the door; Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating the center housing with the bottom plate removed and the spindle operating mechanism enclosed therein;Fig. 4 is a vertical section upon the line 4t-& of

Fig. 3 illustrating another view of the spindle operating mechanism; Fig. 5 is a detail of either the upper or lower housing illustrating the latch and operating mechanism partly in section; and Fig. 6 is a section upon the line 66 of Fig. 5 illustrating the mechanism shown in 5.

According to the present invention, an operating instrumentality such as a pedal or cross bar is connected with the upper and lower spindles through a double toggle lever in such a manner that outward movement or the operating instrumentality moves the upper and lower vertical spindles or rods in opposite directions. The operating spindies at their upper and lower ends respectively project into housings of similar form and construction having locking latches pivotally mounted therein. The spindles are loosely connected with the latch bolts in such a manner that movement of the spindles ina direction to release the latches witl1- draws the latter against the action of light springs. On the other hand pressure directly upon the latches and connected bolts, caused by engagement between the latches and striker plates on closing the doors, does not compel a. like movement of the vertical spindles and operating mechanism. The present construction is greatly simplified as compared with existing I commercial constructions designed for the same purpose, is rugged and efficient in its operation, and is capable of operating repeatedly for long periods without undue wear or injury to the parts. Furthermore, the failure or breakage of any one of the operating springs does not interfere with the release of the lock.

'Re'terring to the illustrated embodiment of the invention the latch mechanism comprises generally upper and lower operating rods or spindles 10 and 12 projecting into latch housings l t and 16. The inner ends of the spindles are connected into a center housingilS provided with an operating pedal 20. The latches projecting from the upper and lower housings 14 and 16 engage with striker plates 22 mounted upon the upper and lower door jambs. It will be observed that with this construction the latch comprises essentially a center housing and two vertical spindles and latch housings of identical form and shape. As indicated clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the center housinglS has an operating pedal 20 pivoted therein at 22. The'operating instrumentality is provided with a. tail 24 which engages in a slot 26 formed in a tubular head 28. The head 28 is pivoted at 30 to a pair of toggle links 31 and 32 which in turn are connected at their outer ends to a second pair of toggle links 341 and This second pair of toggle links is pivoted at- 36 to an upper head 38. The upper and lower heads are mounted for sliding movement in openings formed in the housing 18, as indicated clearly in- Fig. ,4. The pivotal connections of the two pairs of toggles indicated at 40 and42 are supported bvswinging links or arms 44 and 45 which are in turn pivoted at their opposite ends toggles which some the approximate positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. the

supportinglinks 31 and swingin outwardly to accoi'mnodate the spreading movements oi the pivotal connections. This construction forms an exceedingly simple and eliicient mechani m tor in'iparting releasing movements to the upper and lower spindles thrt'iugh the actuation oi." the single operating instrumentalitj i l. The upper and lower spindles ll) and ii are respectively connected with the he: d5 31-; and 28. the spindles having threaded ends (it) which engage within si ilarl v threaded bores (3:? 'l'ormed in the heads. This term of connection permits the etiective length ol the spindles to be adjusted and accommodate variations in the over-all height of the doors. The opposite ends oi the spindles project: within the latch housings 1e!- and 16. as indicated more particularly in Figs. 5 and (3. Each latch housing: is provided with a latch member pivoted therein at T2 and having; a slidin :1' latch bolt 74 connected with the latch at Tli. lhe latch is provided with a cam face 78 which engages with a similarly curved surlace formed upon a striker plate to prevent movement of the latch in the direction ot' the arrow in Fig. (5. Depression of the latch shown in Fig. 6 permits opening oi the door. Upon closure the door, the latch is ieadilv depressed through eue'apgen'ient with the outer portion of the striker plate and depression of the latch about the pivotal connection 72. The latch is normallv retained in locking position by a light spring 80 surrounding the latch bolt T l and interposed between the head of the holt and a web 82 tormed in the housing. The latch bolt projects through an opening; in the web 82 and is provided with a head t l upon its lower end. which is engaged b v a hook 86 formed upon a head 88. which in turn is secured to the end of the operating spindle. The movement ot the operating spindle toward the center housing causes the release at the latch through the latch bolt T-l. Upon releasing: the operating instrumentality 20, the spindles are returned to inoperative position through the springs 50 and the latches are returned to ojnj-ratiirc position through the springs 80. The outward movement of the latches is prelerablv lii'nited lrv a dog 90 mounted within the latch housing? and eue'agingwith the head 84. as indicated clearly in Fig. 6. It will be evident to those are moved inwardiv upon engagement ol' th data. 'i'his movement cooperating."

dies and 'ipera ine i f A \1 la t. that toe ll )lt. and hcada i air ill w" out tsHEFlHff a tree to more ctirre pondin;- m vement oi" t'.r connecttal heat F 'i h r rtmstructzon pre vents unnecessary movement and w ar the operating parts t to repeated opcniiu: and c osing! oi the door. in order to protest the operating! mechanism {or the pindlc.-: from dust and dirt. the housing if i.-.- prcl crabl t closed hv a bottom plate loo sh wn in Fig. l. which l in a recessed is mauntci. portion of the housing to permit the l;!i i '2 to be attached direcll lo the side ol' the door through the threaded m mbers l hl. If so desired. the operating: spindles ma he guided intermediate their ends by guid s llll provided with openings For the passage oi the spindies and secured to the door by threaded itastenine's loo.

Aswill be evident. the present conrttu tion is rugged and relativcl easy to install and when so installed is positive in its operation and capable of satisfact ry opcration for lone" continued periods.

lVhile it is preferred to emplov the spccilir construction and arrangement ol' parts shown and described. it will he understood that this construction and arrangement is notessential except so far as specified in the claims and may he changed or modilicd without departing from the broader l'eatures of the invention.

The invention ha 'ing been described, what is claimed is:

1. Latching mechanism for exit doors comprising two operating rods extending: vertically across the door. latches connected with opposite ends ot the roda a center housinn into which the adjacent ends ot the rods extend, an operating instriunentalitv on the center housing. and connections within the housin for moving the rods in opposite directions on actuation of the instrumentalilv. comprising two links connected at their adjacent ends to one another and at their opposite ends to the rods to torm a jointed lever and a pivoted arm connected to the joint of the lever at the l'ree end oi the arm to permit swinging movement of the joint; in a direction transverse to the direction ol movement of the ends oi. the lever while constraining the joint against ltlOVtl'l'lllll' in the direction of movement ol the heads.

2. Latch mechanism for exit doors comprising an operating instrument alitv, a hous- It'l lUi)

lflO

ing in which the operating inst-rumentality is pivoted, heads sliding within the housing, connections between the operating instrumentality and one of the heads, two pairs of toggle links extending transversely of the heads and connecting the heads interme diate their ends, and means for supporting the toggles during movement of the heads toward and from one another.

3. Latch mechanism for exit doors com prising two operating rods extending vertically of the door, latches connected with opposite ends of the rods, a center housing into which the adjacent ends of the rods extend, an operating instrumentality on the center housing, connections within the housing for moving the rods in opposite directions on actuation of the instrumcntality, comprising two sets of toggle levers interconnected at their outer ends and connected with the respective heads at the joints intermediate their ends, and supporting arms extending lengthwise of the housing and connected at their free ends to the outer ends of the interconnected toggle levers to. limit movement of the outer ends of the levers lengthwise of the housing while permitting movement of the outer ends transversely of the housing.

4. Latch mechanism for exit doors com prising a center housing, upper and lower heads sliding within the housing, an operating inst-rumentality pivoted in the housing having a projectionconnected with the lower head, a pair of toggle levers connected together at their outer ends and each con-' nected intermediate its ends to the upper and 5. Latch mechanism for-exit doors com prising a center housing, heads slidingly mounted in opposite ends of the housing, a pair of toggle levers interconnected at their outer ends and connected with the respective heads intermediate their ends, means for lin'iiting the movement of the outer ends of the toggle levers lengthwise of the housing, means for normally moving the heads apart, and manually operated means for moving the heads toward one another through the interconnected toggle levers. V

6. Latch mechanism for exit doors comprising a center housing, heads slidingly mounted in opposite ends of thehousing, a

pair oi toggle levers interconnected at their outer ends and connected with the respective heads intermediate their ends, means for limiting the movement of the outer ends of the toggle levers lengthwise of the housing, means for normally moving the heads apart, manually operated means for moving the heads toward one another through the interconnected toggle levers, oppositely disposed latches, and connections between the sliding heads and latches to retract the latches upon movement of the heads toward one another.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

J. OTTO SOEMER. 

